YMCAfit 

I originally wrote a glowing five-star review, praising every aspect of the course. However, after some reflection, I felt it was only fair to both the YMCAFit team, past and present, and to fellow customers, of which I have recently been one,to revisit my review with a more balanced perspective. Having experienced YMCAFit both as a customer and as a middle manager, I feel a responsibility to be honest and transparent.

Let me be clear: this five-star rating is a tribute to the tireless efforts of the middle management, student support staff, team leaders, learning support tutors, sales team, and the tutors who deliver the courses. I salute you. Your dedication and resilience deserve recognition. I’ve read many past reviews, and I want to stress that the individuals on the ground, particularly those long-serving members of the team,should not shoulder blame for challenges often beyond their control.

To borrow a quote from Geoffrey Howe’s resignation speech, it sometimes felt “like sending your opening batsmen to the crease, only for them to find their bats had been broken by the team captain before the first ball was bowled.” That sentiment resonated deeply with aspects of my own experience.

That said, there were standout individuals who made a lasting impact during my recent course. Special thanks to Michelle and Boba in the sales team, who were consistently helpful and responsive. Des in student support was a rock, nothing was ever too much trouble. And Trevor, the tutor, the myth, the legend, delivered my course with professionalism, knowledge, and genuine passion. You are each an outstanding example of what YMCAFit can be at its best.

YMCAFit, both past and present, has been home to some truly dedicated professionals. I salute you! 🫡

This review reflects my personal views and individual experience. It is shared in the spirit of honest feedback and is not intended to make any factual assertions about individuals or the organisation beyond what I directly observed.

YMCA is Probably the biggest scam in the fitness industry. Terrible course content, very out of date and not in-line with current health and fitness knowledge. Appalling student support, terrible teachers. When I complained about how dreadful my yoga course was they agreed to send me a refund of my deposit and advised me to cancel my student loan but I have not received a refund and David Francis from Head Office, who is the man who agreed to refund my deposit, now ignores my emails and phone calls. Where is my £250 YMCAFit? I’ve been waiting patiently for a really long time.

Many people have complained about the outdated and badly taught courses. You can find far better online courses elsewhere for less money and the SAME qualification.

Avoid this company like the plague.

I have successfully passed my ETM, which is great news!!

I have rated YMCA as a 4 star as they supported me through the process fully and I had dedicated one to one support as well as in-group.

Although their customer service could be greatly improved.

A big thanks to Dani the Learning Support Tutor for all her help!!!

the teaching i find is great, this is a really good course if you are able to work with independence :) i do feel i managed to learn a lot in a small period of time, even with completing the course from home.

YMCAfit was helpful initially when I enrolled. There was an delay with YMCAfit confirming my existing PT level 3 qualification/certificate, which means my components on the learning platform were incorrect. My assigned support (Asher) did not respond to my messages via the platform until other delegate were preparing for the exam which meant I still did not know if I needed to prepare which was stressful. Then there were continuous issues with the platform they use for assignments, uploading footage etc. The class tutor was helpful and I liked her energy. The ETM course is challenging but the most difficult aspect for me was counting the movements to a continuous 32 beat. After the practical element was complete, I was introduced to a learning support tutor (Danielle), she completely changed my experience, with her knowledge and patience, she gave me advice and tools to help improve my understanding. I grasped the beating counting, coaching and guidance required during a class and I would give her five stars for her input and successfully completing the ETM course!

I've been inquiring for few monthly now about personal training/stott pilates instructor courses: the 2 different advisors I've got contacted from were friendly at first then, the first one started being quite pushy and just kept asking if he could proceed with booking me on, knowing I needed more time to decide, for quite strong personal reasons. The second advisor I've spoken with is quite prepared on the courses although, as I've never done online studying before and, quite honestly I'm rather mote of a classroom than a computer learner, told me that if I'm not good at logging in and using usernames and password, maybe I shouldn't opt for the stott pilates.
Omg I felt so put off! Apparently there's no in person help available if I get stuck with the system and for any inquiry I have to get in touch with the student support team which, by reading your reviews, it seems like not working at its best. I have already a lot of acknowledge and experience in the field , i just need a certificate to work at an international level but, at this point, I feel so disappointed and degraded. I feel he couldn't bother with giving me more help and all the information were all in his email.

I’m extremely disappointed that, for reasons I can’t quite discern, this is the UK’s “only licensed STOTT provider”. I have contacted several times registering my interest, including scheduling a call which was not made (I waited an hour) nor did I receive a response to the email asking when I could expect a call. I’ve actually been trying to book for several months. Their approach seems arrogant at best, totally disorganised at worst, and does not bode well for undertaking any training.

I am coming back to do a second review.

Since my first review , I was contacted by a manager who was very helpful and considerate.
The lady explained she had gone and listened to my original booking call and admitted that there was some misinformation etc and that this has been raised further for further training for the sales team staff.
She was also kind enough and offered me a refund on my course and stopped further payments that were due to be taking on their finance option .

Which I am very thankful for.

Deanne Harding

The customer service i have received from Rafaela ( lstudent enrolment advisor) was outstanding. She is very knowledgable, friendly and professional explaining all the Information in depth, with all the relevant details. She answered all my question, with Valuable content and patience. Keep up the high standard 👏 .... Thank you so much.

I did this course so I could do the Indoor Cycle Instructor Course. There was online work to do for a few weeks and then 4 successive in person weekends. Good points: the responsiveness of student support was speedy and helpful; the instructors were knowledgeable and enthusiastic; mixing with course-mates was very beneficial to the learning experience and the central venue was great. Areas for improvement: the user-unfriendliness of the online Aptem system (Many had problems on the course) and the ageism in the course content - really need to treat adults as individuals, not classify them by age. I am 69 and a competitive Masters athlete thus pretty physically capable as are many of my friends. I did not welcome being pointed out as an exception to the arbitrary 65 cut-off for more demanding physical activities in the learning materials. Finally - why does it take so long between the final exam and receiving the certificate? It took 2 weeks to mark the exam and then I've been told 6-12 weeks to receive the certificate, which I need to prove I am qualified.

Thorough teaching and upholding a best practice for safe and effective instructors

Adrian Walters was a fab instructor! YMCA were super helpful, great customer service and quick marking :) thank you!

A great course .Yoga Diploma. They were thoughtful, helpful and caring as we had to cancel our course due to medical reasons. Annie is a great Yoga Teacher. Very knowledgeable and David was instrumental. Thank you x

I have never written a bad review in my life, but I felt I should here because a lot of people are parting with lots of money to do these courses and if I can make someone think twice about it then this review is worth it.
Firstly, the course itself was good. I had a great teacher who was so knowledgeable and kept it interesting and fun. I would recommend the course itself. However, the customer service is some of the worst I have experienced in my life! No one seems to care, at all. It can take weeks to get a response to an email and if you manage to get hold of someone on the phone, they just tell you to email!!
When you have spent thousands of pounds on a course and you are considering it as a career change, it would be nice to have people on the phone/email who actually sound interested and want to help you.
These courses are a big deal and the customer service completely lets the side down. Its a real shame. I have spoken to several people and they all say the same so its not just me!
If you are considering a course I would strongly suggest you look elsewhere and consider other options before parting with your hard earned money!

My experience with level 2 gym instructor course was absolutely amazing! From start to finish everything was well organized and engaging. I truly enjoyed every moment and I’m looking forward to join a new course in the near future. Highly recommend this to anyone looking to expand their knowledge

Poor customer service and come across as a money grabbing company. Had a medical emergency in which I missed the 2nd day of in person learning, I contacted them to let them know in which they replied they’ve cancelled my course and I’m still expected to pay the full amount (£1496) as 100% ( which is buried in t&c’s) is required regardless if you’re in a car accident or mothers been injured. Their alternative was to pay £350 for a transfer fee, forfeit the money I’ve paid so far and start again next year.
There are better courses out there that offer in person learning and online, I was just suckered by there persistent sales rep who never mentioned the most significant thing no medical, work, children emergency is valid and will void your course. Classes also take place in an old, noisy gym, Avoid this one.

I had two best weeks of my life at YMCA Kings Cross cromer Street with two outstanding teachers David and Anie. I recommend it to anyone considers becoming a yoga teacher. Excellent value for money too.

My yoga teacher training course was marvellous. I cannot recommend the teachers highly enough! It was a joy to attend! 🙏 both the teachers and other students were lovely 🍀

I had the privilege of training Level 3 Hatha Yoga with Annie Vincent to become a yoga teacher, and I can honestly say that the experience has been life-changing. From the very first day, Annie created a safe, supportive, and deeply inspiring learning environment. Her approach to teaching is grounded in both knowledge and compassion, and have a remarkable ability to guide students not only through the physical aspects of yoga but also the philosophy and mindfulness that are at the heart of the practice.
Throughout the training, Annie provided invaluable insights into anatomy, alignment, and sequencing, while also encouraging us to find our own voice as teachers. She fostered a space where we were encouraged to explore, ask questions, and grow, both as yoga practitioners and as individuals. I never felt rushed or overwhelmed instead, I felt supported every step of the way, with feedback that was constructive and empowering.
One of the things that stands out most is Annie's ability to cultivate a deep sense of confidence in her students. By the end of the training, I felt not only prepared to teach but also excited to share the transformative power of yoga with others. The tools and knowledge I gained from Annie have had a lasting impact on both my personal practice and my teaching style.
If you’re considering becoming a Hatha yoga teacher or deepening your knowledge of yoga, I highly recommend studying with Annie Vincent. Her teaching is truly a gift, and I’m forever grateful for the guidance, wisdom, and inspiration she shared with me throughout my journey.

Very poor customer service, I do not recommend to start training with this company.
I am still waiting for refund as I couldn't start it because of the Terms&conditions.
I have sent 2 emails regarding to my refund as I desperately need to get back, but both of them been ignored. I am aware of that the refund takes up to 21 days but I am pretty sure that it could be faster in special circumstances. I have given the reason twice to make faster my refund, but I am being ignored. Very poor customer service. I should have read reviews before I paid my deposit.